FACTORS WHICH EFFECT EQUILIBRIUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

The equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) of rough rice, brown rice, corn kernels, corn cobs, soybeans, and red beans was measured at temperatures ranging from 5 to 50°C. Four ERH models and their estimated parameters were evaluated for goodness-of-fit. Hysteresis effect was found for the ERH properties of rough rice, corn kernels, and corn cobs. Drying temperatures of samples had a significant effect on the ERH properties. Comparing results of this study with previously published data, the effect of the ERH determining method did not influence ERH properties. Varietal and growing location differences did affect the ERH property for some grains.